It was hardly the news he wanted to hear — reports about a foot of snow, maybe more. Josiah Hakala knew the calendar read March 13 and that it was still prime snow season. But the calendar he goes by – the golfer’s calendar – was circled with March 25-26.
“The first tournament of the year,” sighed the 16-year-old from New Ipswich, N.H., a reference to the U.S. Challenge Cup Junior Invitational. “And I’m trying to get ready.”
Sure enough, the snow fell the following day – oh, how it fell – and Hakala realized there’d be no way to go outside and swing his golf clubs. Which really wasn’t a huge hindrance because when you talk about junior golfers who are prepared and seemingly always ready, starting with this young man from New Hampshire is a safe bet.
“I have a net in the basement, so I will be down there a lot,” said Hakala, who is a junior golfer on a mission. More length is the goal, but that means faster club-head speed for more productive ball speed. “It’s all about leveling everything up. By the time I’m 18, I need to be playing 7,600-yard courses effectively, so that’s what I’m working on.”
The work ethic has been a staple for Hakala, who has strong family ties to the game.